Cannabis, fibromyalgia and Lyme disease: what's the connection?

The medical effects of cannabis The effects of cannabis on the immune and nervous systems are being studied more and more. Many diseases, although caused by bacteria or viruses, affect the body’s defense mechanisms and lead to symptoms that impair patients’ quality of life. Cannabis is currently being studied as a treatment for these diseases.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes fatigue and severe muscle pain. It is estimated that 5 million people have the condition, but in reality, the numbers could be higher because the condition is difficult to diagnose. The The symptoms of the disease are very severe for patients and significantly impair their quality of life, leading to sleep disturbances, stiffness, numbness, and memory problems.

In 2011, a study sought to evaluate the effects of cannabis on patients with fibromyalgia. The study group consisted of 56 patients, half of whom used cannabis while the other half did not. The researchers concluded that «cannabis use was associated with positive effects on fibromyalgia symptoms» and that, consequently, although further research is needed, it should already be made available to patients.

Cannabis is known for to be effective in treating pain, that is certainly the primary reason it is prescribed, but cannabis can also be effective in treating side effects such as depression, anxiety, the’arthritis or insomnia, the loss of appetite and headaches.

Fibromyalgia may have as the source a deficiency in the endocannabinoid system. However, the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant can compensate for these deficiencies and enable the system to function properly. Cannabis could serve as a complementary treatment—or even a treatment in its own right—for these types of diseases.

Lyme Disease

In the United States, the number of people diagnosed each year with Lyme disease exceeds that of AIDS and breast cancer combined. In France, more than 27,000 cases are currently diagnosed each year.

This infectious disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted by a tick and typically develops one week after the bite. The symptoms are similar to those of the flu: muscle aches, fatigue, and headaches; if left untreated, they can progress to arthritis, cardiac arrhythmia, nerve pain, and meningitis.

A doctor says he has prescribed cannabis-derived products to his patients and has observed significant improvements in symptoms such as anxiety, cognitive impairment, pain, and sleep disorders: «I have recommended the’CBD oil »during the day because it doesn't have any sedative effects, then THC in the evening for pain, and a little pure indica-based THC to help me sleep.".

Cannabis is not a substitute for antibiotic treatment of the disease; this is indeed a bacterial infection, and cannabis has no direct effect on it. Nevertheless, it may prove effective in treating and alleviating symptoms that can persist long after antibiotic treatment of the disease. This is referred to as chronic Lyme disease, which is associated with symptoms such as increased fatigue, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, cognitive impairments, mood disturbances, irritability, anxiety, and depression.